Related Links

Washington – President Barack Obama warned on Friday
the White House race was not a "reality show" and called for Donald
Trump's record to be held to close scrutiny as the billionaire seeks to rally
divided Republicans behind him.

With Trump seizing the mantle of presumptive
Republican nominee this week after his rivals exited the race, debate has
turned to whether he will be able to rally party faithful behind him between
now and November.

Asked about Trump's candidacy and the resulting
chaos on the Republican side, Obama offered some of his most pointed comments
yet about the celebrity real estate mogul and long-time star of TV show
"The Apprentice," whose political rise has stunned the world.

"We are in serious times and this is a really
serious job," Obama told reporters at the White House. "This is not
entertainment. This is not a reality show."

"Every candidate, every nominee needs to be
subject to exacting standards and genuine scrutiny."

Trump has raised howls of protest even within his
party with his harsh, free-wheeling speech and proposals ranging from banning
Muslims from entering the United States to building a wall on the southern
border to keep out Mexican migrants to slashing US funding for NATO so allies
have to pay more.

"He has a long record that needs to be
examined, and I think it's important for us to take seriously the statements
he's made in the past," Obama said.

Secretary of State John Kerry piled on, telling the
diverse and international graduating class at Northeastern University that they
were "Donald Trump's worst nightmare."

"We will never come out on top if we accept
advice from soundbite salesmen and carnival barkers who pretend the most
powerful country on Earth can remain great by looking inward and hiding behind
walls," Kerry said.

Soul searching

The words of warning came a day after the nation's
top elected Republican official, House Speaker Paul Ryan, refused to support
the presumptive nominee and said Trump has "some work to do" to win
over sceptics within his camp.

In a possible olive branch, Ryan invited Trump to
meet with him and fellow party leaders in the House next Thursday to discuss
"the kind of Republican principles and ideas that can win the support of
the American people this November."

But Ryan's warning to Trump threw the Grand Old Party
deeper into soul searching over how to mount a viable campaign against Democrat
Hillary Clinton in November.

Several party elders – including the last two
Republican presidents, George W Bush and George HW Bush – have refused outright
to endorse Trump.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a former 2016 presidential
candidate, became the latest establishment Republican to opt out, announcing on
Friday that he would not vote for him or Clinton.

Former candidate Jeb Bush also said he will not
back either nominee, noting on Facebook that Trump has not demonstrated the
right "temperament or strength of character" to be president.

Bush and Graham both stressed that they will focus
on the key goal of helping Republicans maintain their majorities in the House
and Senate.

Trump 'radioactive'

Trump said he was taken aback by Ryan's rebuke.

"And it's fine. He can do whatever he wants to
do. But I was surprised by it," Trump told Fox News.

Ryan, the 2012 Republican vice presidential
nominee, has stressed the burden was on Trump to begin the healing process
within his fractured party.

But Trump's clumsy effort to reach out to one
alienated group of voters triggered an immediate backlash after he tweeted a
photograph of himself eating a taco bowl, adding "I love Hispanics!"

"Honestly, he's trying," Republican
National Committee chairperson Reince Priebus, who has urged conservatives to
back Trump, said on Friday.

"I honestly think he understands that building
and unifying and growing the party is the only way we're going to win."

Democrats, buoyed by polls which show Clinton
leading Trump head-to-head, seized on the Ryan clash to highlight the GOP
turmoil.

Clinton, who leads a resilient Bernie Sanders in
their Democratic nomination battle but has yet to seal the deal, has already
pivoted to Trump, calling him a "loose cannon" and saying Americans
cannot risk electing him commander in chief.

Her campaign and its supporters have also begun
reaching out to Republicans disillusioned with Trump, according to The New York
Times.

Some conservatives, including Senator Ben Sasse,
have made waves by arguing that a third candidate should challenge Trump and
Clinton.

Speaking on the Republicans' Trump conundrum, Obama
said its voters will ultimately have to "make a decision as to whether
this is the guy who speaks for them and represents their values."

"I'll leave it up to the Republicans to figure
out how they square their circle."

Tell us a bit about yourself:

Saving your profile

Settings

News24 allows you to edit the display of certain components based on a location.
If you wish to personalise the page based on your preferences, please select a
location for each component and click "Submit" in order for the changes to
take affect.

Your Location*

Weather*

Always remember my setting

Saving your settings

Facebook Sign-In

Hi News addict,

Join the News24 Community to be involved in breaking the news.

Log in with Facebook to comment and personalise news, weather and listings.